JAVALI is a light classical piece sung usually in the medium tempo. The lyrics are usually on mundane themes of unrequitted love, pangs of separation, accusation of adultery etc. The tune of Javalis have a characteristic catchiness free from the heaviness of the treatment of the raga found in Kritis. Dharmapuri Subbarayar and Pattabhiramiah are leading composers of Javali.

During the lecture, TRS mentioned/compared Javalis to sauntering, Krithis to walking and Varnams to marching.

The counterpart of Javalis in Hindustani music could be roughly Thumris, TRS said.

Selection of ragas for Javali are usually confined to those ragas with Sringara Rasa. Just imagine a Javali in Punnagavarali!!!

In passing he mentioned the names of Kavi Kunjaradasa, Dharmapuri Sundareshwara and Bhamodie Sriinganan which were "Old Testament Songs" of the songs which were like Javalis.

Comparisons vis-a-vis Kshetra Gyan Padams were also drawn. These seem to be more popular in Andhra Pradesh.

Contributions of Tachir Singaracharyalu and D.Pattamal were also were delineated.

Javalis also have Nadais. Tishra Nadai for example is used in some Javalis.

He also mentioned "Sringara Rasa in Murcham". Other allied tit bits were that Desa Adi Talam had no rationale and a Javali in Saindhavi Ragam perhaps suggested that when these Javalis were composed, the society then was perhaps permissive.

All in all, the lec-dem was a very educative and enlightening one.